MINUTES

Of the Special Meeting of the

Citrus Springs Advisory Council

1570 W. Citrus Springs Boulevard

Citrus Springs, FL 34434

October 21, 2004

 

Bob Johnson- Chairman                                                         John Fitzpatrick-Vice Chairman

            Pat Hipner                                Ann Julio                         Glenn Mehl

 

 

The Citrus Springs MSBU Council met on Thursday October 21, 2004 at

3:30 p.m. in Building B at the Citrus Springs Community Center.

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

I.                     CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Johnson called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.  The Invocation was given by John Fitzpatrick, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

II.                   ROLL CALL

Recording Secretary, Sue Rexford called the Roll.   All Board members were present.

 

Chairman Johnson introduced Mr. Paul Gibbs, C & D ENGINEERING and Mr. Danny Tvenstrup, Construction Coordinator of Public Works and Liaison to the Council.

 

There were 3 members of the Community present.

 

III.                  MAIN ENTRANCE DESIGN- Mr. Paul Gibbs, C & D Engineering

 

Mr. Gibbs gave the Board blueprints of the designs for their review.  He said the plans are 60% complete.  He is working with a local pool remodeling company that specializes with this type of project.  He said they are waiting on some additional mechanical data.  He addressed some of the questions the Board had from the previous meeting as follows:

 

·         Add concrete curbing on perimeter of medians-it will be added on the fountain side around the perimeter of the medians where the grass meets the roadway.  Chairman Johnson asked what type of curbing would be used.  Mr. Gibbs replied that he is recommending type B curbing.

 

·         Smaller trees in lawn area behind waterscape.

 

·         Add landscaping along the sides of the waterscape; Landscaping has been added along the sides between the roadway and the side of the fountain.

 

·         Chlorine damage on new plant material: The new plantings will not be that close to the fountain, which will eliminate any damage.

 

·         Sign concept- the sign concept was approved at the last meeting but there were questions regarding the height.  The County regulations are anywhere between 6-8’ and the plans have been changed accordingly.

 

 

·         The layout of proposed semicircular planters- was approved at the last meeting.

 

·         Add locking mechanism on existing flagpole-has been added.

 

·         Provide information on wind control device for fountain- Mr. Gibbs said he is still working on this.

 

Mr. Gibbs then proceeded to give a power-point presentation to the Board.  (A copy of which is attached and made part of these minutes.)  Highlights are as follows:

 

Proposed signage:  12” high Gold Leaf Lettering; Chairman Johnson reminded Mr. Gibbs that the sign must say Deed Restricted Community.  The sign will be 6’ 8” high, and 12’ 4” long.  The columns will be stone based and the background will be a stone- look tile.

 

Proposed landscape materials:  3 European Fan Palms have been added to the sides, 9 smaller trees have been added behind the fountain. Mr. Gibbs then discussed the various low maintenance plantings that would be used.

 

Waterscape improvements:  Pebbletec Natural Pool Refinishing is one of the products being considered to re-finish the pools. The water columns will be 70” high and almost 4’ wide and will have good visibility and wind resistance.

 

Chairman Johnson asked Mr. Gibbs if he had any cost data.  Mr. Gibbs replied because they are still waiting for some mechanical information, he didn’t have any yet. He said he would be able to furnish preliminary costs at the next meeting.  He then reviewed the blueprint plans with the Board.

 

Chairman Johnson thanked Mr. Gibbs for his presentation.

 

IV.        Prioritizing of Paving Review

 

Chairman Johnson said he met with Mr. Steve Dixon, Field Operations Manager, Division of Engineering and Mr. Ken Cheek, Director of County Engineering earlier today and they gave him a complaint list of streets in Citrus Springs that have been called in over a period of time. This list is in addition to the list that was generated by property owners at the Community Center. The County rates the streets from 1-10, (1 being the best and 10 being the worst).  They have also rated the list from the Community Center.   To pave those streets would cost approximately $345,000.00. The Board will be fair in the way that the paving list is prepared keeping in mind that most of the money that comes into the MSBU comes from non-resident property owners.  The County starts with the worst streets and if they can save that street with micro paving that’s what they do.

 

He continued saying the County has $2 million in the budget for paving in this fiscal year (04/05) for the entire County.  This money has not yet been allocated between the 5 districts, but Citrus Springs, having the largest number of streets of any community in the County, will receive a substantial amount of that.  He said the Board has a responsibility to all property owners to use MSBU funds wisely. The Board has approved $250,000 per year for the next four fiscal years for paving.  Mr. Dixon has spent a lot of time on this project and his efforts are appreciated.

 

 

Ms. Julio asked if the MSBU board needs to give the OK as to which streets are paved.  Chairman Johnson said he felt that the Board should leave those decisions up to the professionals at the County, as the Board does not have the expertise to make those decisions.  He said he would like to have a representative from the County here at the next meeting to make a recommendation as to how to proceed.

 

V,         GENERAL DISCUSSION OF MEMBERS

 

Mr. Fitzpatrick asked Mr. Tvenstrup about the equipment for the new employee. 

Mr. Tvenstrup said the equipment has been ordered and should be available in the next few weeks.  We’re just waiting for the truck to be delivered.  Mr. Fitzpatrick asked if the BOCC had approved the purchase order for the new mowing contract.  Mr. Tvenstrup said they would do that at the next meeting on Tuesday, October 26th. 

 

Mr. Mehl asked Mr. Tvenstrup about the 8 street lights.  Mr. Tvenstrup said he has been in touch with Progress Energy but they’re still cleaning up after the hurricanes.

 

Mr. Mehl asked about the developers building new homes and adding new water lines to get water to the homes.  Mr. Tvenstrup said he has already brought that to the administration’s attention.  He said if new addition is over 1,000 feet they are required to install a fire hydrant.  Chairman Johnson asked if that was a new County regulation.  Mr. Tvenstrup said yes.  Mr. Fitzpatrick asked Mr. Mehl for a copy of the map showing where the fire hydrants were located.  Mr. Mehl said a map with hydrant locations has been provided to him by the County, but there are no street names on it. Mr. Fitzpatrick suggested we go back to the County and ask them to add the street names.  Mr. Tvenstrup said he could ask them but the fire stations use a GPS to locate the fire hydrants in an emergency.  Mr. Mehl said he got a street map from Citony and has pin pointed every fire hydrant on it.

 

Chairman Johnson asked Ms. Hipner to get a Citrus Springs map and use it for a master plan of locations where directional signs should be located.  A master plan must be submitted to the County and approved before the MSBU can proceed with this project. A workshop may be required to expedite this project.  

 

The Chairman stated that in view of all the current projects, it would probably be necessary to have more than one meeting a month if they are to be accomplished in a timely manner.

 

Chairman Johnson said it’s time to get started with work on the Boulevards and medians. All of the medians won’t have beds in them; some of them will have a row of crepe myrtles or other trees decided upon by the Board.

 

He said he personally has a problem with understanding Administration Regulation 13.19 (AR 13.19) because it is a lot more restrictive than what he was told.  He continued by saying that the County’s restrictions are much stricter than the FDOT.  If installing this curbing at $10-$12 per foot to get the beds enhanced is not going to provide any more square footage for plantings, then we do not need to spend the money.  The County says plantings have to be 6’ from the curb and yet in Dunnellon their plantings are about 18” from the curb.  If we have to stay 6” back from the curb on each side then there is no reason for us to put in the curbing.  Perhaps the BOCC needs to be approached about changing the regulations.

 

The Chairman interrupted the meeting to let attendees Janice & Ron Rupert speak.  Mrs. Rupert stated that they came to the meeting thinking the MSBU Board would address the Green space areas.  Chairman Johnson said we all are concerned about that, but the MSBU Board has no jurisdiction over this issue.  This is an issue for the Board of Commissioners. The Chairman thanked Mr. & Mrs. Rupert for coming to the meeting.

 

Ms. Julio said she was approached by Ms. Lydia LaPinnet who is in charge of the Citrus Springs telephone directory. She wanted to know if the Board wanted to make any updates or changes for the MSBU information that appears in the directory. Chairman Johnson said a review and up-date is in order. This will be addressed at the next meeting.

 

Ms. Julio distributed copies of suggested plantings for the medians as well as the intersections with an estimate of the cost of plants and materials required. There was no estimate provided for the cost of labor.  These estimates were provided by Mr.  & Mrs. Devine. (Copies are attached to these minutes)  Ms. Julio said these quotes do not include curbing or water.

 

The costs provided are for one bed and it is up to the Board to determine where they are to be placed. Discussion ensued regarding AR 13.19. Chairman Johnson stated that Crepe Myrtle and some of the Hollis are permissible.  The question becomes the set back on each side and the availability of water for irrigation at the intersections.    The Chairman and Mrs.Julio commented on the outstanding work that Mr. Devine has provided to the Board.

 

The Board needs to make a decision as to which medians will get the proposed plantings.  Ms. Julio said at the next meeting she would tell us how many medians there are and then a decision can be made.  Chairman Johnson said he would ask Mr. Devine to print copies of the plantings.  Medians are not a problem to get started, the intersections may take a little longer. 

 

If conflicts between the purposed drawings and AR 13.19 can be resolved before the next meeting the Board will be able to approve this.  He asked Ms. Julio to invite Mr. & Mrs. Devine to our next meeting so the Board and the residents can see what they have done.        

 

Mr. Tvenstrup said the Board needed to vote to extend the contract for Mr. John Lonsdale, John Lonsdale Pool Services for monthly maintenance of the Fountain at a cost of $6,000.00 a year. 

 

A motion was made by Mr. Fitzpatrick and seconded by Ms. Julio.  Upon a unanimous vote the motion carried.

 

Ms. Julio asked the Board about Holiday Lights for the entrance.  Chairman Johnson said the Civic Association has provided the lights in years past.  Ms. Julio said Mr. & Mrs. Devine have volunteered to do that.  Chairman Johnson said MSBU funds cannot be use for decorations and lighting.

 

Mr. Fitzpatrick said he was concerned about trees that came down during the hurricanes, but they’re not completely down, just hanging.  He said on Country Club Boulevard there are 2 or 3 limbs that are hanging close to the road.  There’s also one on Iva and one behind the fountain.  Chairman Johnson said they needed to be called in to the County.

 

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mr. Mehl and seconded by Ms. Hipner.  Upon a unanimous vote the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

 

The next regular meeting will he held on November 3, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. in Building B

 

Respectfully submitted by

Sue Rexford

Recording Secretary